Outlet box anchor



Sept. 11, 1956 E. H. WEBER OUTLET Box ANCHOR Filed NOV. l0, 1951 UnitedStates Patent OUTLET BOX ANCHOR Edmund H. weber, International Fans, Mann.

Application November 10, 1951, Serial No. 255,822

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-27) This invention relates to mounting brackets for use in mounting such boxes as outlet boxes in wall openings.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a new and improved bracket of cheap and simple construction which can be employed without the use of screws, bolts, or the like, to mount such boxes as outlet boxes in wall openings through access to only one surface of the wall. v

Another object is to provide such a bracket which can be so employed without the use of screws or bolts to firmly anchor the box to the wall.

This application is a companion application to my application Serial No. 255,821 entitled Bracket for Supporting Outlet Box executed of even date herewith and this application contains subject matter which is in part common to that found in my said other application, the claims of said common subject matter being found in my said other application.

The yobjects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts through the various views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one of the brackets of my invention as it will appear before being applied to a'box.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation showing a portion of a wall with an electricalconduit box mounted in place within an opening in the wall by means of a pair of my brackets.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, oneof the brackets securing the left portion of the box to the wall being shown in the position it will assume while the box is being placed within the wall opening and the bracket securing the right side of the box to the wall being shown in the position it will assume after the box has been anchored in place.

Fig. 4 is avertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, as is indicated by the arrows and;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which one of the brackets is` formed.

Referring to the drawings, the bracket as illustrated includes a rectangular base 6, having at one side thereof a pair of up-turned hooks 7, joining the same adjacent the two ends thereof. Between the two hooks 7, an elongated loop-like arm 8 joins the same side of the base 6 and this arm extends generally normal to the base. The arm 8 has an inwardly extending forked portion 8a, the prongs of which are tapered and the narrower ends of which prongs join the base. The inwardly extending portion 8a joins an outwardly extending portion 8b which projects outwardly beyond the base 6 and terminates in a tab 8c, which has an aperture 8d therein for a purpose presently to appear. The arm 8 is reversely bent on itself at the juncture of `the inwardly extending portion 8a with the outwardly extending portion 8b and the reversely bent section of the arm as the bracket is originally formed is preferably bent somewhat out of ICC the base 6 in an inward direction and is of -tapered conv struction towards its end. The end portion of the arm- 9 forms a readily bendable tongue 9a having a purpose presently to appear. The outer part of the arm 9 immediately adjoining the base 6 is provided with a crimp 9b to strengthen the same and prevent it from being readily bent at this point. Due to the tapered construction of the forked inwardly extending portion 8a of the looplike arm 8, this inwardly extending portion is fairly weak compared to the remainder of this arm and is accordingly readily bendable. An opening 8e is formed in the outwardly extending portion 8b of arm 8 and the tongue 9a of arm 9 normally projects through this opening.

Referring now to the blank shown in Fig. 5, from which the bracket is formed, this blank is formed of sheet metal and will be stamped out in the shape shown. In producing the bracket from the stamping, the hooks 7 are bent upwardly on the dotted line 10, and the arms 8 and 9 are bent upwardly on the dotted line 11. A reverse bend is made on the line 12 and the portion 8b is brought down against the portion 8a, while the tongue 9a of the arm 9 is given a partially reverse curvature and carried through the opening 8e. V

In Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a portion of a wall 13 having an outer surface 13a and an inner surface 13b. An opening 14 is cut in the wall 13 of a size to receive an ordinary electrical conduit box 15, this box being' shown as being of octagonal shape and as having an inner bottom portion pro-vided wit-h a number of openings 15a in accordance with the usual practice. A cover16 is provided for the box 15 and after the box is applied to the wall, `the cover may be secured .to the'box as by means of screws 17 received in inwardly projecting tapped lugs 15b, formed at opposite points at the outer edge o-f the box 15.

Preparatory to mounting the conduit box 15 in the wall opening 14, two of my brackets will first be applied to the box at opposite points thereon, thes'e brackets be. ing secured to the boxv as the left hand bracket shown in' Fig. 3 -is applied thereto.` In applying a bracket to the box, the base 6 will be disposed laterally of the box wall and the two hooks 7 will be engaged over the outer portion of the wall. The loop-like arm will be disposed against the w-all of the box as will the major portion of the box engaging arm 9. The tongue 9a of the arm 9 will be inserted through one of the openings 15a-of the box and this tongue will be reversely bent lso that op` posite portions of the tongue engage .and are crimped against opposite surfaces at the inner portion of the box.

The end tab 8c of the bracket will be disposed outwardly of the base 6.

When two of the brackets have been secured in `this manner at opposite sides of the outlet box` 15, the outlet box with the brackets attached will be brought into juxtaposition outwardly of the wall opening 14 andthe box will then be pushed into the wall opening tocarry the two bracket bases 6 into engagement with the outer surface 13a of the wall. To anchor the box firmly into position at one side of the box, a tool such as a screw driver will be run through the opening 8d of one of the brackets, and the end tab 8c by use of the screw driver, will be drawn outwardly away from the outer side 13a of the wall, thereby drawing an additional section of the outwardly extending portion 8b of the loop-like arm 8 3 outwardly beyond the base 6. As this occurs, the inwardly extending portion Sugoi the loop-like arm 8 will bend causing a part of the Farm 8 to bow laterally from thefside of the box, the side-of the box in tact producing somewhat of` a `ca-rnrning action` tofa'ssist in producing this l ow. Eventually l@theintermediate portion the arm 8 will-assume about Athe appearance of this porftio'n ofthe arm '8 shown 4a't Athe right, handA side of Fig. g3, and 'of 'course .a `surface of fthe Vloop-like artn will Ibe brought linto tight-engagement with -t-h'e -inner surface 13b of Vthe wall-and in opposition lto the=ba`se 6. Yvfhen Vboth brackets have been secured 'in the manner described, the end 4tabs Sc-Ofthe brackets,-tog'ether with 'such additional Sections -o-i the farmy8' asextend outwardly beyond lthe base '6 -ma'y becut'otffor bent `backgarid Vforth until 'they break off, for rna-yfbe bent inwardly against t'ne inner sid'e of the vwall iof the -box "as shown 'at the right of Fig. 3, and -the installationfof the box is then complete, the-two "bracketsrmlyanchoring-the box in the wall.

lIt 'should Vbe noted that b-ynuse -of -my brackets, rthe box can be completely installed and anchored in the wall by access only *to one side of the wall. In other words, 4it is not necessary in installing an outlet box for a workman to have access to both sides of thewall within which the box is to be placed. Also, n'o screws or bolts need be lused to firmly anchor lthe box in position.

After the vbox hasbeenanchored in position in the wall opening -the cover '16 may be readily applied to close the box 1,5; While the Vbracket -of the present invention 1s primarily intended for use in installing Vsuch boxes las electrical vconduitgboxes, switch'boxes and the like in wall openings,itisalso capable -of`usein-'installing' other-boxes and other devices in wall openings. lt will be seenthat a highly eicientlbracket has been provided.

`It willof course befunderstood that various changes may -be made in the form, details, 'arrangementfand pro portions of theparts without departure lfrom the scope of the present invention, whch,-generally.stated, consists in 'thernann'er shown, and described, and set forth in the appended claims.

AWhat is claimedris:

j 1. -A'supprting'bracket'for'mounting an outlet box in n=opening in 3a'wallvcomp/rising, a base'adapted to'engage affront-Surface of the wall, an larm joined to said base and adapted to extend generally normal thereto in an inward-direction'throughsaid opening when in 'wall engagin'gpositio'msaidlfarm having anexte'nded portion providing a Vr'everselyfbelit 'tongue "of bendable material for irisertingithrou'gh ano'penin'gthrough the internal'structure -o`f 'aboxY'and'fcrirnpingagainst'two opposite surfaces thereoffafhok joirie'dt'o saidbase -for extending over the forward 'edge' of a sidewailof" the box, an arm'having a-loop,atfleastfa'portion thereof being constructed of bendablematerial,"said\rmalso being joined to said base ndexteridin'g geneally`'norrnal thereto in the same directionassaidfirstfane'd arnf'iand having an end tab disposed' utwardlyfrm" thebase, said two arms being insertblewiththeib'xwithin the wall opening to bring said base into'eng'agnet"with'thefront surface of the wall andi'said tab'bin'g "engageableto' pull outwardly of the wall surface in relative movement with said base whereby to"cause "an'innr #portion of the looped arm `to buckle an'd'enga'ge'theinnerportion of the'wall as the sole fasteningmens-'in clinchi'ng relation 'with said base.

525 A" supporting bracketfor mounting an outlet box in anA opening ina wallcom'pri'sin'gaibase adapted to engage a front surface of the wall, a box engaging arm of generally triangular shape joined to an edge of said base and projecting laterally therefroin to extend within said opening, said box engaging arm having a bendable tongue at its inner end insertable through an opening in the internal structure of the box for crimping against two opposite surfaces of the box, a reversebl bent arm also joined to an edge of said base and projecting in the general direction of said box engaging 'arm, said .reversely bent arm having a uniformly increasing area Afrom Asaid base inwardly up to the bent portion an'dhaving 'the reverse portion `bent 'against the inwardly "extendingiportion yadjacent the juncture edge of said base andY extending outwardly past the base so as to lie forwardly o"f the wall when mounting a box, whereby the outwardly extending reverse portion will be engageable to draw a further part of the outwardly extending portion beyond the base to cause the inwardly extending portion of .the arm Itof'mo've in contact with the box :and cause fa portion thereof fto 'bend away from the boxvand Iinto'engagement lwith the inner surface ofthe wall-in oppositionitosaid base.

3. A supporting 'bracket Vfor mounting ra box .in `.an opening Aina wall comprisngf'afbase adaptedto contacta front vsurface adjacent -said opening, 'a'box 'engagingarrn joined to said base and projecting laterally therefrom for clampingfin crimped engagementithe Vbraelieti'm the-'outside of said box, a distortablea'rrn'also joined lto s'aidib'as'eeand projecting laterally in .the 'same fgeneral direction `as ls'aid rst mentioned'arm, said di'stort'able arm having 'a Vcon tinuously tapered cross se'ction adaptedltolie `closely adjacent v'the outside of s'aidbox'fthen 'bent reversely against itself 'to form Ian e'nd tab extending laterally-across the base 'in la direction 'opposite that lof said ibox engaging arm, '.said'two arms "being insertable'withthe ib'oxfinto Vthe wall opening to cause the base to bearY-aga'inst ftheffront surface of the-wall, whereupon said lend tab .fcan be grasped andthe `ldist'ortable arm drawnf'outwardly in sliding contact 'with 'the f outside of "the 1'box yft'ofeause ai medial portionl'thereofto b`o'w awayirorn s'aid sicle-fsuiface ofthe box and tightly engage the real-'aside ofthe `Wallin-opposition to said'base.

4. Afsupp'ortingbracket 'for mounting a istandard:electrical connection box in an opening in afwlllcornprising a generallyA rectangular walllenga'ging-basehaving adjacent its 'two ends :and at -one sidethere'of angl-ar'tabs Ikforming hooks, an elonfgated-v and taperedearm joined'to'fthe'fsanre side of the wall-engaging base in inwardly spaced-relation from 'the said hooks, sa-icl arm beingfrevers'ely bendable at its outerend for insertion 'tlirough-an-opening 'at lthe rear offsaid 'eleetricbox, fand :a distortable ann -joined' to said base `at`l the -s-ames-ide `as-sadfrstfnientionedfann,'the latter arm-being tapered'lfromftliefrear of the Ib`ox"toward its juncture with the base.

'Referencesl Cited in theie oflthis patent UNITED STATES rretratar-s 644,913 Himmelwright -"Ma'r 6,1900 796,468 E'Streeter AugfS, :1905 1,896,898 `Hil'dellrarid -fFebf-7y1`933 2,126,114 Jett yAug. C"9, 1938 VY2,299,676 Austin Oct. '20, 1942 2,374,622 Rllgg Ap-r. 122, 1945 2,429,443 Yesch'i'ck ;Oct.`21, 1947 2,480,805 kBuckels AugfB'O, 1949 2,581,755 ylDieffender-fer l.'anS, V1952 2,635,778 Dieffenderfer Apr.`2l, 1953 

